Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG): Optic Nerve Evaluation. Changes in the optic nerve are one of two characteristics which currently define progression and thus worsening of glaucoma disease status (the other characteristic is visual field). There is a significant gap in documentation patterns of the optic nerve for both initial and follow-up care (Fremont, 2003), even among specialists (Lee, 2006). Examination of the optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer provides valuable structural information about glaucomatous optic nerve damage. Visible structural alterations of the optic nerve head or retinal nerve fiber layer and development of peripapillary choroidal atrophy frequently occur before visual field defects can be detected. Careful study of the optic disc neural rim for small hemorrhages is important, since these hemorrhages can precede visual field loss and further optic nerve damage. When initiating therapy, the clinician sets a target range of controlled intraocular pressure (IOP) based on the pretreatment pressure and the presence of optic nerve damage. According to the AAO Glaucoma Preferred Practice Pattern, lowering the pretreatment IOP reduces the risk of developing POAG and slows the progression of POAG to preserve visual function (AAO, 2015).
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